{
  "id": 15694507,
  "title": "MATTERS OF THE ART: Dyslexic artist Lerato Motau found her own voice when words failed her",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/matters-of-the-art-dyslexic-artist-lerato-motau-found-her-own-voice",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-20T03:58:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-20-dyslexic-artist-lerato-motau-found-her-own-voice-when-words-failed-her/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Soweto-born textile artist Lerato Motau, diagnosed with dyslexia in her teenage years, uses her art to tell her story and challenge perceptions of neurodivergence. Despite struggling with traditional literacy in school, her artistic talent flourished, leading to multiple solo exhibitions and works displayed in international galleries. Motau's 17-meter-long installation, \"Fabric of the Universe,\" is permanently housed at The Leonardo in Sandton. She emphasizes that her art is a form of self-expression and therapy, enabling her to communicate her experiences without the need for words. Motau actively advocates for dyslexia awareness, hosting gallery openings and talks to dispel misconceptions about the condition and support disadvantaged learners.",
  "summary": "Instead of allowing her condition to define her, the Soweto-based creative lets her works speak for her.",
  "key_points": [
    "Soweto-born Lerato Motau diagnosed with dyslexia in teenage years.",
    "Art flourishes despite literacy struggles, leading to solo exhibitions.",
    "17-meter installation \"Fabric of the Universe\" permanently at The Leonardo."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Transforming a literacy struggle into a visual language allows neurodivergent creators to bypass traditional communication barriers and reclaim their narratives through large-scale, internationally recognized artistic expressions.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}